Isaiah 40

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:23

The princes … the judges ; rather, princes , judges. The entire class of such is meant, not any special individuals (comp. Psalms 107:40 ; Job 12:19-21 ). As vanity ; or, as chaos—the same word that is used in Isaiah 40:17 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:24

They shall not be planted … shall not be sown … shall not take root. The verbs are all of them in the past tense. Translate, have not been planted , … sown , etc. The meaning is that princes and judges of the earth are not fixed in their places, have no firm root in the soil, are easily overturned. Even if the case were different, a breath from the Almighty would, as a matter of course, dry them up (see Isaiah 40:7 ) and blow them away. As stubble (comp. Isaiah 5:24 ; Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:25

To whom then, etc.? This is a summary, to conclude the section ( Isaiah 40:19-24 ), as Isaiah 40:18 concludes the preceding one. If God is paramount over idols ( Isaiah 40:19 , Isaiah 40:20 ) and over nature ( Isaiah 40:22 ) and over humanity ( Isaiah 40:23 , Isaiah 40:24 ), to whom can he be likened? Is he not altogether unique and incomparable? Saith the Holy One (comp. Isaiah 57:15 ). Isaiah's special designation of God, at once pregnant and almost peculiar (see the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes , etc. Once more an appeal is made to creation, as proving God's greatness. "Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these (heavens), bringing out their host ( i.e. the stars) by number, or in their full number (Cheyne), and calling them all by names" (comp. Psalms 147:4 , Psalms 147:5 , "He telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names," which, however, is probably later than Isaiah). Omnipotence alone could have created the starry... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27

O Jacob … O Israel (For this pleonastic combination, so characteristic of Isaiah, see Isaiah 9:8 ; Isaiah 10:21 , Isaiah 10:22 ; Isaiah 14:1 ; Isaiah 27:6 ; Isaiah 29:23 , in the earlier chapters; and Isaiah 41:8 ; Isaiah 42:24 ; Isaiah 43:1 , Isaiah 43:22 , Isaiah 43:28 ; Isaiah 44:1 , Isaiah 44:5 , Isaiah 44:23 ; Isaiah 45:4 ; Isaiah 46:3 ; Isaiah 49:5 , Isaiah 49:6 , etc; in the later ones.) Why sayest thou … My way is hid? The prophet has gone back... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27

Darkness breeding doubt. Here is a question which is full of surprise. " How , then, can Jacob and Israel be faint-hearted, or despair of their restoration, when this unmatchable, all-powerful, unwearying God is their God?" Yet there is almost an excuse for their doubtings and depressions in their national circumstances. They had been so long in the power of their enemies, and their outlook was so utterly dark and hopeless, that they concluded they were quite overlooked by the God of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27-28

The impiety of impatience. God rebukes Israel for its impatience under trial. It ought to have "remembered the years of the right hand of the Most High;" it ought to have considered that its Divine Sovereign was one whose faithfulness did not depend on a few passing years, that the action or the inaction of "the everlasting God" was not open to the criticism which condemns the short-lived policy of frail and dying men. The rebuke is full of practical truth applicable to ourselves. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27-31

Despondency reproved. I. THE COMPLAINT OF THE PEOPLE . They feel themselves, or are tempted to feel themselves, forsaken of God. Their "way" seems to be hidden from him. The "way" is a figure for the course and condition of life. And is it not said in the first Psalm, "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous"? There are times when this cannot be realized. The truth of a providence over the national and the personal life—what more consoling? "Thou art with me;" "Thou God seest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:28

Hast thou not known? Complaining Israel is bidden to stay itself upon God, as and is then further consoled by the promise that God will give them strength to endure; support them, refresh them, and, as it were, renew the youth of the nation ( Isaiah 40:29 , Isaiah 40:31 ). Creator of the ends of the earth ; i.e. "Creator even of the remotest ends," and therefore of the whole earth. Fainteth not (comp. Psalms 121:3 , Psalms 121:4 ). If God were for a moment to "faint" or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:29

He giveth power to the faint . So far is he from being "faint" himself, that he has superabundant energy to impart to any that are faint among his servants. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:27-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:29

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